UTILIZATION OE BLACK WALNUT. 15 



Over the greater part of eastern Texas the best walnut has been 

 taken out during the past 15 or 20 years and shipped to Europe 

 through the Gulf ports. The level country and good railroad facili- 

 ties made possible the shipment of the greater part of the best 

 timber. South of the Trinity Elver and west of the ninety-seventh 

 meridian, black walunt is replaced by Mexican walnut {Juglans 

 rupestris), which is often marketed as black walnut, but is inferior 

 in quality. 



VIRGINIA-WEST VIRGINIA REGION. 



[Estimated stand, 89 million feet..] 



Walnut is not found at the higher elevations in the mountainous 

 regions of southeastern West Virginia and northwestern Virginia 

 nor in the coastal-plains region of southeastern Virginia. There are, 

 however, many fertile valleys in the mountainous section, excluded 

 from the commercial range on the map. in which there are small 

 commercial stands of walnut of good quality. 



In West Virginia the main walnut area occupies, roughly, the 

 northwestern half of the State, the bulk of the timber being in the 

 northeastern portion of this area. The largest amounts are at pres- 

 ent in the region lying between Fairmont and Charleston. The Elk 

 River region, exclusive of the headwaters, contains much walnut. 

 Some excellent walnut timber is found in the southwestern part of 

 the State, but the greater portion of the timber is difficult of access. 

 In the territory traversed by the Great Kanawha and New Rivers 

 the walnut has been largely cut out, and only an occasional tree 

 remains. 



During the recent war this northwest section of the State, which 

 had not been heretofore closely worked for walnut, largely because 

 the timber was below the average in size, was drawn upon heavily 

 for war needs, and much suitable material was obtained. This terri- 

 tory is not very extensively traversed by railroads, however, and 

 much timber remains to be cut if the demand warrants it. In the 

 southeastern half of the State there are many broad valleys, and 

 those whose altitude is not too great contain merchantable stands of 

 good quality. Many of these rich, fertile valleys originally con- 

 tained large amounts of excellent forest-growth walnut, the greater 

 part of which was removed 15 to 20 years ago, the timber being- 

 hauled long distances over mountain ranges and shipped for ex- 

 portation. An occasional stand of virgin walnut timber is still found 

 in this section of the State, but is likely to be too small in amount to 

 warrant the necessary long haul to the railroad. In southern West 

 Virginia, because of the high altitude and the poorness of the soil, 

 there are not many walnut trees. 



